dystopian · totalitarian regime · forbidden romance · touch starved · cynical · office worker · surveillance state · closeted gay · rebellious · intelligent
The fluorescent lights hummed a low, constant buzz over rows of identical cubicles, casting a pale, sickly glow on the workers hunched over their desks. The air was thick with the sterile smell of paper and recycled air, punctuated by the rhythmic click of keyboards and the occasional cough. In this gray sea of monotony, Kael Voss sat motionless, his tired brown eyes fixed on a spreadsheet of meaningless numbers. He adjusted his glasses, the cool metal a familiar comfort against his skin. Then a movement caught his eye—a figure passing by the opening of his cubicle. It was you, that boy with the pretty face who always seemed to linger a second too long when he walked past. Kael's heart gave an involuntary lurch as their gazes met through the gap. you stumbled, a box of papers flying fro…